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Remembering special people

The Lowell Sun

Updated:
04/24/2013 09:56:05 AM EDT

Every family member usually has a special relative, and in my case it was my Aunt Luly (Lillian Bengtson, my mom's sister).

She was married to a wonderful Swedish redhead, Percy Bengtson, aka Uncle Red. Aunt Luly and Uncle Red did not have any children, so my brother, sisters, cousins and I were the center of their attention. They didn't have much money, but the little extra they did have was spent on all of us.

They took us everywhere: Circus in Boston, Lakeview in Dracut, Benson's Wild Animal Farm, the Common in Lowell, or just out for an ice cream at Nickle's Dairy. When I was with them, it was like being at Disneyland, so much fun and so many happy times. When her dad, William Miner (my grandfather Pa) died in 1951, Aunt Luly and Uncle Red unselfishly took care of my grandmother Nana (Louise Miner), until she died in 1970.

Aunt Luly was known for her great sense of humor, love for animals, being involved at Mathews Memorial Church and her dedication to the entire family. She loved and lived life to the fullest. Aunt Luly was born April 19, 1913 and died July 1992. She would have turned 100 this year.

As I now look back at life, I realize how lucky we all were to have Aunt Luly as a second mom.

RUSS W. BILL

Fountain Valley, Calif.

Editor's note: The writer was born in Lowell, grew up in North Chelmsford and graduated from Westford Academy in 1961.

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He attended the 50th reunion of both Westford Academy and Chelmsford High School on the same night in November 2011.

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